Alma Moreno ‘Hurt’ by Internet Bashing over Controversial TV Interview

Image courtesy of www.rappler.com

Source: www.gmanetwork.com

Parañaque councilor and senatorial aspirant Alma Moreno on Thursday admitted being ‘hurt’ by the public's harsh reactions to her controversial TV interview last week.

Interviewed by GMA News, a teary-eyed Moreno said the incident has taken its toll not only on her but also on her family, who she said also felt slighted by the deluge of memes and comments generated by the now much-lampooned interview.

In the TV interview that tackled her senatorial bid, Moreno could be seen having a hard time responding to questions on a range of issues, from same-sex marriage, discrimination, and tax cuts to the Reproductive Health Act and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

She claimed having "reservations" over the RH Law, but could not cite one when pressed for specifics. "Kailangan pa bang sagutin [yan]?" she instead asked.

Moreno, a former actress, also admitted "getting lost" over a question ("Teka, nawawala ako") and not having full grasp of certain issues ("Actually, hindi pa ako napupunta doon").

She also suggested, though in jest, that couples should keep the lights on as a birth control measure.

The video of her interview became viral, as netizens started churning out countless versions of memes that poke fun at her. The interview also resulted in her own hashtag #PrayForAlma, borrowing from the #PrayForParis hashtag.

Moreno admitted she might not be as well-read and intelligent as other politicians, but said that does not make her less of a genuine public servant.

In a speech she delivered at the covered court of Barangay Sun Valley in Parañaque on Thursday, Moreno once again pointed out how hurt she was by the ridicule she has been receiving, but also thanked those who came rushing to her side.

Moreno, an actress-turned-politician, is running in the 2016 elections under the ticket of presidential bet Vice President Jejomar Binay's United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Meanwhile, in her Instagram account, the interviewer, broadcast journalist Karen Davila, defended her questioning of Moreno after several netizens accused her of being harsh to the Parañaque official.

“When someone is running for higher office - they must have an understanding of issues. This is a standard we owe to the Filipino people," she said.

She also said she "tried to help" by using Tagalog instead of English many times just to be able to keep the conversation easyflowing.